Australian News.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8195, 23 May 1906, Page 5

Australian News.

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). Per Press Association. (Received May 23, at 10.41 a.m.) PERTH. This Day. The Premier delivered his policy speech at Bunbury. He anticipated that the year would end with a deficit of £118,000, and proposed retrenchment and a tax on unimproved land values, with the object of breaking up large estates as well as gaining additional revenue. The Government's intended amendment ot the land laws will make compulsory progressive improvements on conditional blocks. The provisions of the Agricultural Bank Bill will be liberalised to assist suitable men possessed only of determination and muscle. The question of immigration with a view .to attracting suitable settlers was receiving special attention. Cabinet intended to ask authority to raise a loan of a million or a million and a quarter for agriculture and railways development, land for settlement, and other works. They would keep expenses down to an absolute minimum. The retrenchment proposals include the reduction of Ministers' salaries from dGIOOO to £800. BRISBANE, This day. The Employers' Federation Conference decided to support the antiSocialistic movement, irrespective of members' views on the fiscal question, but hoped the present Parliament would carry into effect the recommendations of the Tariff Commission reviewing any glaring anomalies of the tariff.